Beverage cooler



Feb 2, 1937- s....l. LAGoMARslNo 2,059,374

BEVERAGE COOLER Filed Jan. l5, 1935 2 i ff? Ven/0f' iatentecl. Feb. 2, 1937 l y S PATENT OFFICE 'Y BEVERAGE COOLER Emilio Lagomarsinoi Ventura, Calif. Application January 16, 19L35, Serial o. 2,017

15 Claims. (Cl. 62-141) My invention relates to a type of beverage cool- A further and' detailed feature of the cooling tube er in which the liquid-may be 'cooled while in a connection to the plug involvesinterconnecting container such as a barrel, cask, or the like. The lugs by which the tube may be used to Irotate present invention is particularly adapted and conthe plug for unthreading from the cap and thread structedvfor cooling beer in barrels and casks. again into the cap, the tube being attached to 5 An object and feature of my invention as apthe plug by a rod, or the like, extending longitu- Yplied to an internal cooler for barrels or casks dinally throughthe tube and attached to the or Similar containers for beverages involves a plug.

UNITED STATE construction by which a tube or pipe extends be- My invention is illustrated in connection with loa tween the ends Iof the barrel and through one the accompanying drawing, in which: end, which tube may be sealed at its outlet from Fig. 1 is a vertical section through one form the barrel, and in the tube I employ cooling coils of my beverage cooler when inserted in a barrel, through which a cooling fluid may be passed thus or the like. chilling the tube` or pipe and extracting heat Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2.2

l5 from the beverage in the barrel. On account of of Fig. 1 in the direction of the/arrows illustratl5 the beverage being removed from the barrel it is ing, mainly, the attachment of the cooling tube necessary to have the cooling coil extend the full and the closure plug.

length of the tube so that the residual beverage Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a barrel broken i in the barrel will be adequately cooled. i away to` show my invention installed therein. In another construction an object and feature Fig. 4 is a section through the cap of thebarrel 20 of. my invention is an arrangement by which the showing the plug forming the closure and with tube with the cooling coil may be inserted in and the cooling unit removed. j removed from the barrel, in which case the tube In my invention the barrel iS identified by the is sealed in the barrel to prevent loss of the carnumeral I I thishaving a head I2 and a base I3.

2;, bon-dioxidefgases in the beverage or used to expel The head is provided With a Cap I4 attached to 25 the beverage. In this construction I lalso use a the head proper -by a screw-threaded connecremovable plug connected to the inner end ofthe tion. As my invention principally applies to a tube which may form a closure plug for the head wood or metal barrel construction the head I2 is of the barrel after removal of the cooling tube. usually made of wood or metal, but the cap I4 f 3o Afurther detailed feature of my invention relates may be made of metal. 'I'he cap has a central 30 to usingaremovable cap preferably threaded into threaded opening I5, the threads of which are the head of the barrel, and lin this cap I provide combined and of cross pitch, thus, there are a a screw-threaded opening, the screw threads loe-- plurality .of entrance ends at the thread so that a ing utilized to form a screw-threaded connection quick attachment and detachment of the plug with the plug, this plug being threaded into the hereinafter deSCiibEd may be mafie 0f the Plug cap from the inside of the barrel on removal of. to and from the cap. The cap is preferably prothe cooling tube, and vice-versa, when the coolvided lwith an annular recess VIii having external l ing tube is inserted in the barrel I have means for screw-threads I6'. attaching the tube to the plug, unthreading the The'. cooling assembly designated by the nu- 40 plug from the 'cap and then inserting the tube meral I'I employs a cooling tube or pipe I8, this 40 until the plug rests on the bottom of the barrel being preferably cylindrical and having a closed on the inside thereof and thus forms a support top I9. The lower end of the tube has a closure for the tube and the cooling coils, 20 with a central socket and on the sides there Another detail feature of my invention in this are a plurality, of short vertical recesses 2I. A

type of cooler involves a collar threaded onto cooling coil 23 isv inserted preferably perma- 45 the barrel cap and having a 'packing ring or nently in the cooling tube. This is illustrated washer therein to form a gas-tight seal with the as having a series of helically wound sections of outside of the cooling chamber. Another feature the tube 24 'and a vertical section 25 extending of my invention relates to the construction of from the bottom `of the coil upwardly inside of the cooling unit this being la tube with a cooling the coil. There are two ends 25 and 26 of the coil of small Size pipe Wound thereon and having cooling coil pipe which extend through openings an inlet and outlet at theiouter or closed end of in the head I9 and are sealed thereto preferably the tube whereby the cooling fluid may be circuby welding, or the like. The thin tube 21 conlated 'through the coil and develop a heat transnects between the closures I9 and 2D at opposite fer between the beverage and the cooling tube. ends of the tube this being for the purpose of 5d passing an attaching rod hereinafter describedA through this tube 21.

The closure plug designated by the assembly numeral 30 has a foot or base 3| with short legs 32 to rest on the base I3 of the barrel, a sleeve 33 extends upwardly from the base 3| "and has exterior threads 34, these being combined to mesh with the threads I5 of thel cap I4. The sleeve 33 is also provided with a series of internal lugs 35 which fit in the short recesses 2| in the cooling tube I8. At the center of the base 3| there is a boss 36 having an internally threaded socket 31 to which may be attached an attaching rod 38 screw-threaded at its lower end. This rodis threaded at its upper end 39 and is threaded in an internally threaded opening 40 in the closed head I9 of the tube I8, and also preferably in a boss 4| on the top of this closed head. A finger grip 42 or a wrench head is used for rotating the head to thread it in and out of the screw-threaded recess or socket 31. A packing gland 43 threaded in the boss 4| is. used to form a gastight seal on the rod 38.

When the rod is attached to the plug 3II and thus the cooling assembly I1 is likewise attached to this plug they act as a unit. Before attaching the tube. to the plug the plug is secured in the cap I4 and thus forms aclosure for the threaded openingy I5. Thus, when the cap I4 and the plug 30 are connected together the barrel may beshipped properly sealed. To attach my cooling unit to the plug the lower end of the tube I8 is interfitted with the plug so that the recess 2| in the tube I8 and the internal'lugs 35 on the shoe interengage and the rod is threaded into the socket 31 and screwed up tight so that there is a snug assembly of the cooling tube with its cooling coils therein and the plug. The plug may then be unthreadedv from the cap I4 and the cooling assembly with the plug moved downwardly in the barrel until the legs 32 rest on the base I3 of the barrel.

In order to form a gas-tight seal surrounding the pipe or tube I8, I employ a sealing assembly 45, which employs a collar 46. This collar has internal threads 41 to mesh with the threads I1 on the cap I4. A circular packing ring 48 interts with a circular groove 49 on the lower edge ofthe collar and a circular groove 50 at the base of the annular recess I6 in the cap I4. A washer 5I is inserted in the collar 48 and rests on shoulder 52 formed at the upper ends of the internal threads 41 on this collar. A compressible packing gasket in the form of a ring 53 is inserted in the collar resting on the washer 52 and is squeezed-tightly to expand the gasket against the external surface of the tube I8 by a ring l54 having a threaded connection 55 with the upper end of the collar and preferably internal thereto. The ring 54 may have projecting wrench grip lugs 56 for screw-threading in place.

It will thus be seen .that when the cooling unit i is assembledy in the barrel that the cooling tube I8 passes through the opening I5 in. the cap,

which, in shipment of the barrel, was closed by vplug 36. 'I'he lower end of the cooling assembly rests on the bottom I3 of the barrel. The collar 48 .with the assembly units therein forms a tight seal on the tube I8 and also on the cap I4.

The tube or pipe I8 preferably contains alcohol or other suitable liquid for heat transference between the cooling coils 23, this tube I8 and the beverage. When the assembly .is thus inserted in the barrel, a cooling fluidmay be circulated through the cooling coils, which, as above mentioned, have connections 25 and 26 exterior of the tube I8 for attachment to any suitable means for circulating a refrigerated fluid.

On account of having the refrigerating coil ypipes extending the full length of the cooling tube I 8, when the barrel is full there is a heat transfer between the full contents of the barrel and the cooling assembly. The beverage contents of the barrel may be drawn off for dispensing in any suitable and known manner, and as the beverage level descends in the barrel there is always the lower portion of the cooling tube immersed in the residual beverage contents. Therefore, such beverage is adequately, cooled until the barrel is completely empty. rAfter such emptying of the barrel the pressure on the packing gasket 53`may be released by unthreading the ring 54.

The collar assembly 45 may then be removed,

the tube I8 elevated, and by turning this tube, the plug 30 may be attached to the inside of the cap I4 and thus form a complete closure for the threaded opening I5. 'Ihe barrel is then in a condition to be returned for refilling and the cooling unit may be used on another barrel.

From the 4above construction4 it will be seen that a gas-tight seal may be made by the packing-ring 53 on the outside of the tube I8 before this is engaged with and attached to the plug 30, and that while the plug is being unscrewed from the cap I4 this gas-tight'seal is maintained, and also whenthe cooling unit with the plug 30 is forced downwardly into the barrel the gas-tight seal is still maintained. Thus, when a beverage contains a gas such as the carbon dioxide gas -have not only developed an appliance for cooling a beverage in a container and forming a ga'stight seal, but, also I have developed a manner or method of cooling in which 4there is a heat transfer, between the beverage in the barrel 4or other container and the cooling unit internally of the container while the beverage is maintained under pressure in the container, this pressure4 being that due to the gas contained in the beverage some of which escapes and also the pressure gas used to dispense the beverage. This transfer of heat internally of the container thus affords a more economical manner of cooling a beverage in which the cooling unit\may b e substantially centrallylocated in the beverage than the present methods in which attempts,v are made to cool the beverage through the walls of the container. Where a beverage such as beer Vis contained in wooden barrels or casks it is quite a slow procedure to cool this through wooden .walls of the barrel on account of the heat insulating propertes of the barrel itself, and likewise, my procedur facilitates the cooling of beverages contained in metal barrels, or the like.

It will be apparent that if desired, a pipe may be permanently connecte/d either to both ends of the barrel to extend through the beverage or to one end of the barrel and extend therein to the other end so that the cooling tube assembly I1 may be inserted tothis pipe and the heat transfer take place between the cooling coils in the pipe of the cnY beverage in the barrel. 'I'his construction is preferably used with metal barrels. 1

5 scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.

I claim: 3

1. In a beverage cooler, the .combination of a container having an opening, a structure having 10 a cooling means insertable in said opening, means forming a gas tight closure between 'the container and the said structure to prevent outlet of gas through ther opening, a closure plug for the opening, the said structure and plug having an at- 5 taching means whereby the cooling structure may removal of the cooling structure.

2. In a beverage cooler the combination of a beverage container having an opening, a tube insertable in said opening and having a cooling medium in the tube to cool the beverage in the container, and means forming a gas tight closure between the container and the tube. to prevent escape of gas at the said opening, la closure plug for the opening, an inter-engagement between the plug and the container to prevent escape of gas from the container when the plug is attached to 'the said opening, an inter-engaging means betweenthe plug and the tube for attaching the tube to the 'plug and removing the plug from the v container to pass the tube through the opening and thereby prevent escape of gas from the container or through the tube while the beverage in the container is being cooled by transference of heat between the beverage and the cooling coil, the said opening having screw threads, a plug having complementary screw threads, an attaching means for inter-engaging the end of the tube "to be inserted in the opening and the said plug whereby the plug may be unscrewed from the j opening of the container and lowered by the tube into the container, the said attaching means also being operative to thread the plug into the threads of the opening on removal of the tube from the container, the tube being detachable from the plug whereby the plug forms a liquid and gas/tight closure for the container.

container having an opening, a closure plug for said opening attachable to and detachable from the opening from the inside o f the container, a

65 cooling assembly` having means for attaching the engage the plug from the container opening and to lower the plug with part of the cooling assem- 70 bly into a beverage in the container and also to attach the plug to the container opening for removal of the cooling assembly.

5. In a beverage cooler as claimed in claim 4,

a sealing means removably attachable to the con- 4. In a beverage cooler the combination of 'a -f yto prevent escape of gas. from the container;

container and having means to form a gastight seal with the cooling assembly to prevent escape of gas from the container while the plug is being removed and lowered in the beverage and while the beverage is being cooled. i

Q In a beverage cooler, the combination of a container having a screw threaded opening. a

'threaded plug threaded in said opening from the inside of the container, a cooling assembly having means for attaching said assembly to the plug from outside of the container, an inter-engaging means between the plug and the cooling assembly for unscrewing the plug from the opening and lowering the plug with the cooling assembly in a beverage in the container whereby the cooling assembly may effect a heat transference between the beverage and the cooling assembly.

'7. In a beverage cooler as claimed in claim 6, a collar attached to the container` and surrounding the container opening and a packing means between the collar and the cooling assembly to prevent escape of gas from the container. while the plug is being removed and the lcooling assembly lowered into the container during the cooling of the beverage.

8. In a beverage cooler, the combination of a container having a screw threaded opening, a plug threaded in the said opening from the inside of the container, a cooling assembly having a tube closed at its inner and outer ends, means for attaching the tube to theplug from outside of the container, interengaging means between the inner end of the tube andthe plug for unscrewing the plug from the opening, and again for screwing the plug into the opening, the said tube being insertable in part through the open'- ing for ycooling of beverage infthe container.

9. Inl a beverage cooler as claimed in claim 8, the container having a packing means surrounding the container opening and having a 4resilient packing material engaging the exterior of the tube to prevent escape of gas from the container during the removal' of the plug fromthe container and the lowering of the plug and part of l the tube into the container.

10. In a beverage cooler, the combination fo a container having a screw threaded opening, a plug having v threads thereon 'to engage the/ threads of the opening and to be threaded therein from the inside of the container, a tube closed 50 at its inner end, complementary recesses and lugs inter-engaging the'inner portion` of the tube and the plug, an attaching means extending through the tube and secured to the plug for attaching the plug in the tube, rotation of the tube in one direction having an unthreading action on the plug to remove the plug from the opening whereby the tube with the plug may bev lowered into a beverage in the containena sealing means between the container and the tube at the opening and means in the tube to effect a cooling or a beverage inithe containenwhe'n the tube and plug are lowered into the container; the said tube being operative by again engaging thethreads of e plug with the threads of the opening to screw he plug into; the opening, the attaching means being detachable from the plug for removal of the tube from the plug after the plug forms a closure for the said opening. j

11. In a `beverage cooler, the combination 4of a container having`a screw threaded opening, a plug having external threads threaded therein from 4inside the container and forming a closure 75 tainer and surrounding the said opening in theV seal'for theopening, a tube closed at both ends 75 and having an inner pipe connecting the heads, a. rod extending through the inner pipe and at- "tachable to the plug, the plug and the inner portion of the tube having complementary recesses and lugs whereby on rotation of the tube when attached to the plug the plug may be unthreaded from the opening and lowered in the container, the said tube having cooling coils therein and said tube being adapted to contain a heat transier liquid to surround said coils-in the tube.

12. In a beverage cooler as claimed in claim 11, the container having an annular recess surrounding the said opening, a collar threaded into the said recess and thereby detachably connected to the container, a rigid washer in the collar surrounding the tube and supported by the collar, a resilient packing gasket resting on the washer and a ring threaded in the upper end of tainer, whereby the plug may be removed from the container and the plug with a portion of the tube extend into the container, the tube being adapted for heat transference.

14. vIn a beverage cooler as claimed in claim 13, a collar secured to the container and surrounding:` the opening having a plug and a gas sealing means between the collar and the tube whereby the tube may be inserted in the container while maintaining /a gastight seal between the tube and the collar.

15. In a beverage cooler, the combination of a container having an opening, a closure plug attached to saidv opening and detachable therefrom inwardly of the container, a collar structure connected to the outside of the container and surrounding the opening, a tu'be inserted through the collar, a sealing means between the tube and the collar, an interengaging means including an attaching rod extending through the tube for attachment to the plug, for removing the plug from the opening and inserting the tube with the plug in the container, the said tube being adapted for heat tranference.

EMILIO J. LAGOMARSINO. 

